Poem: Touchdown Buddha

[create_destiny]

Assignment: Imagine a room in your family of origin's home. Choose one or two fixtures in that room that metaphorically speak to the energy or the feelings you had as a child or adult in that home. Pay attention to images and language. Be as concise as you can.

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Fat wooden Buddha
pudgy arms reaching up for the sky
giddy with joy next to our small black and white t.v.
in the 1970s

We flicked paper triangles at you
aiming just above your round, bald head
and between your stubby arms
you looked like you'd say, "Touchdown!"

We wrapped you in dish towels
and rocked you to sleep in the rocking chair
night-night, touchdown Buddha
sleep tight, touchdown Buddha

We rubbed your bare belly and made ludicrous wishes
a million dollars
to be invisible
to have all the candy bars in the world!

We'd sneak you into Nativity scenes
where you towered like an absurd Godzilla
RAWR RAWR
we'd knock down Joseph and the wise men while Mary screamed

We stuck a Cheerio in your grin and hid behind the couch
stifling giggles and spurts of urine, anticipating Dad's reaction
(we had to help him notice)
we hoped he wouldn't be mad
but he grinned and picked the cereal out of your mouth

Over the years, through rough-housing and temper-flares
you endured numerous gouges and bore many scars
you lost both your hands but still shine with inexplicable joy
exclaiming to the world, "Touchdown!"

Comments

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

She's letting us choose from a handful of books about writing. The choices are:

One Continuous Mistake - Gail Sheer
Writing Down the Bones - Natalie Goldberg
Letters to a Young Poet Rainer Marie Rilke
Poemcrazy - Susan Wooldridge
Bird by Bird - Anne Lamott
On Writing - Stephen King

I can't decide!!!!! Actually, I think I'm going to do the Natalie Goldberg book and the Letters to a Young Poet.

And where's your stuff, girly? You don't post enough! I want your raw, jagged prose! Throw me a bone!

[robin-rule.livejournal.com]

doro, On Writing by King and Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott are the two better books for NOW. read Rilke on yr own time , lazy summer day, or toasty winter night in front of the furnace (fire, whatevr). i would choose On Writing. I teach from it every year and then i give the kids some lamott. no put down on rilke my god, he's a genius, but ya need NOW. i didn't get that much from writing down the bones. (sorry natalie, it was like 2% milk and i like whole with the cream on top. god, don't let that poor woman read that.)

[createdestiny.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'll read On Writing. I have the book. I'm finishing up Writing Down the Bones and I find it catalystic. I love Natalie Goldberg but not so much her fiction. I tried reading Bananna Rose this summer but I found it lacking when I was thristing for prose about the desert landscape. I like her better when she just writes about writing. Same with Anne Lamott. I read Bird By Bird a few years ago but a re-read is in order. I don't care much for her fiction but Travelling Mercies and Operating Instructions are incredible. I love that woman to death!